Airbag system

Abstract

The present invention realizes an airbag system in which cushioning of a lateral airbag is prevented from vacillating and tilting while holding an occupant.　An airbag system 10 comprises: a lateral airbag 20 that is expanded and deployed toward the vehicle front side from a lateral portion of a driver seat 2a, in a vehicle, on the center side in the vehicle width direction; a passenger-seat front airbag 30 that is expanded and deployed toward the vehicle front side of a passenger seat in the vehicle; and a control device 40 that controls the expansion and deployment of the front airbag 30 for the passenger seat together with the lateral airbag 20. When the lateral airbag 21 that has been expanded and deployed and the passenger-seat front airbag that has been expanded and deployed are viewed from a lateral side orthogonal to the longitudinal direction of the vehicle, the configuration is such that a vehicle-front-side end 25 of the lateral airbag 20 is situated closer to the front side of the vehicle than a vehicle-rear-side end 35 of the passenger-seat front airbag 30.

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to an airbag system comprising a plurality of airbag devices and a control device that inflates and deploys the cushions of each airbag device. [Background technology]

[0002] In a vehicle in which a plurality of vehicle seats are arranged in the vehicle width direction, a far side airbag may be installed on a side portion of the backrest of the vehicle seat that is closer to the center in the vehicle width direction.

[0003] For example, in the event of a side collision in which the passenger side door is struck by another vehicle or a structure such as a utility pole, the occupant in the driver's seat will move toward the passenger side due to inertial force in the early stages of the collision.The far side airbag is designed to restrain the occupant seated on the seat opposite the impact side from moving toward the impact side during a side collision.

[0004] The far side airbag in Patent Document 1 houses a cushion and an inflator inside the side of the seat back. When a side impact of the vehicle is detected, inflation gas is supplied from the inflator to the cushion, causing the cushion to begin to inflate and deploy. The cushion then flies forward from the side of the seat back, leaving a portion of it inside the seat back, and completes inflation and deployment between the vehicle seats. As a result, the inflated and deployed cushion restrains the driver's seat occupant from moving toward the passenger seat.

[0005] On the other hand, a passenger seat front airbag is known as an airbag device that exerts restraint performance in the event of a frontal collision of the vehicle.

[0006] The passenger-side front airbag in Patent Document 2 is housed inside the instrument panel. When a front impact of the vehicle is detected, inflation gas is supplied from the inflator to the cushion, causing the cushion to begin to inflate and deploy. The cushion then projects toward the rear of the vehicle through a weak slit formed in the instrument panel, completing inflation and deployment. As a result, the inflated and deployed cushion restrains the passenger on the passenger side from moving toward the front of the vehicle. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0007] [Patent Document 1] Patent Publication No. 2015-110373 [Patent Document 2] Japanese Patent Publication No. 7-69149 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0008] The cushion of the far side airbag described above has a base fixed to the vehicle seat. When inflation gas is introduced into the cushion from the inflator during a side collision, the cushion inflates and deploys forward from the vehicle seat in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle, restraining the occupant sitting in the vehicle seat.

[0009] At this time, the base of the cushion is fixed to the vehicle seat, while the tip of the cushion, which protrudes forward in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle upon inflation and deployment, is free to swing left and right in the vehicle width direction. Therefore, once inflation and deployment is complete, the tip of the cushion, which is the other end, tends to rotate left and right in the horizontal direction around the base.

[0010] In the case of near-side airbags, which inflate and deploy facing a vehicle body part such as a door, the vehicle body part acts as a wall, making it easy to restrict cushion movement.In contrast, far-side airbags inflate and deploy in the center of the vehicle's interior, making it difficult to prevent the cushion from rotating or tilting.

[0011] With a far side airbag, if the front side of the cushion rotates, the cushion will swing to avoid the occupant as they move laterally across the vehicle, making it difficult to adequately and appropriately protect the occupant. Furthermore, with a far side airbag, if the upper side of the cushion tilts toward the passenger seat, there is no place to properly catch the occupant, making it difficult to adequately and appropriately protect the occupant.

[0012] The present invention has been made in consideration of the above circumstances, and aims to realize an airbag system that prevents the front side of the cushion from rotating toward the passenger seat or the upper side of the cushion from tilting toward the passenger seat when the cushion of the far side airbag is inflated and deployed, and prevents the cushion from swinging or tilting when an occupant is restrained. [Means for solving the problem]

[0013] The present inventors have recognized that an improvement in airbag systems is necessary to solve the above-mentioned problems. The present inventors have conducted extensive research into linking front airbags, which have conventionally only been intended to protect occupants in frontal collisions and have not contributed to protecting occupants in side collisions, with far side airbags to improve the occupant restraint performance, and have completed the present invention. Note that, although the term "side airbag" is also used hereinafter, in this specification, "side airbag" has the same meaning as "far side airbag."

[0014] The present invention provides an airbag system including a side airbag that inflates and deploys toward the front of the vehicle on a side portion of one of the vehicle seats that is central in the vehicle width direction, a front airbag that inflates and deploys in front of the other seat that is provided adjacent to the one of the vehicle seats in the vehicle width direction, and a control device that inflates and deploys the front airbag together with the side airbag in the event of a side collision of the vehicle. In the present invention, when the inflated and deployed side airbag and the inflated and deployed front airbag are viewed from a side perpendicular to the fore-and-aft direction of the vehicle, the front end of the side airbag is located further forward of the vehicle than the rear end of the front airbag.

[0015] The present invention may also be configured to include a side airbag that inflates and deploys toward the front of the vehicle at a side portion of one of the vehicle seats that is central in the vehicle width direction, a front airbag that inflates and deploys in front of the one of the vehicle seats, and a control device that inflates and deploys the front airbag together with the side airbag in the event of a side collision of the vehicle. In this case as well, when the inflated and deployed side airbag and the inflated and deployed front airbag are viewed from a side perpendicular to the fore-and-aft direction of the vehicle, the front end of the side airbag is located further forward of the vehicle than the rear end of the front airbag.

[0016] The present invention may be configured such that the side airbag and the front airbag when inflated and deployed have an overlapping portion where they overlap when viewed perspectively from a side perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the vehicle.

[0017] In the present invention, in a fully inflated state in which the side airbag and the front airbag have each completed inflation and deployment, the side airbag may have a first contact area in contact with the front airbag, and the front airbag may have a second contact area in contact with the side airbag.

[0018] According to the present invention, the side airbag comprises a first main chamber that inflates and deploys toward the front of the vehicle, and a first sub-chamber that protrudes from the first main chamber toward the center in the vehicle width direction and inflates and deploys, and the first sub-chamber may be configured to be provided in the overlapping portion.

[0019] In the present invention, the front airbag comprises a second main chamber that inflates and deploys toward the rear of the vehicle, and a second sub-chamber that protrudes from the second main chamber toward the center in the vehicle width direction and inflates and deploys, and the second sub-chamber may be configured to be provided in the overlapping portion.

[0020] The present invention may be configured such that the side airbag is provided with a first high friction portion having a higher friction coefficient than the surface portion of the base fabric panel that constitutes the side airbag, and the first high friction portion includes a first contact area.

[0021] The present invention may be configured such that the front airbag is provided with a second high friction portion having a higher friction coefficient than the surface portion of the base fabric panel that constitutes the front airbag, and the second high friction portion includes a second contact area.

[0022] In the present invention, the front airbag may be a front airbag for a passenger seat.

[0023] In the present invention, the front airbag may be a driver's front airbag. [Effects of the Invention]

[0024] The airbag system of the present invention includes a side airbag that inflates and deploys toward the front of the vehicle at a side portion of one of the vehicle seats that is central in the vehicle width direction, a front airbag that inflates and deploys in front of the other seat that is adjacent to the one of the vehicle seats in the vehicle width direction, and a control device that inflates and deploys the front airbag together with the side airbag in the event of a side collision of the vehicle. In the present invention, when the inflated and deployed side airbag and the inflated and deployed front airbag are viewed from a side perpendicular to the fore-and-aft direction of the vehicle, the front end of the side airbag is located further forward of the vehicle than the rear end of the front airbag. This makes it possible for the front airbag, which conventionally inflates and deploys only in a frontal collision, to inflate and deploy in a side collision and for the inflated and deployed front airbag to come into contact with the side airbag.

[0025] In the present invention, for example, when the cushion of the driver's side side airbag inflates and deploys, the front side of the cushion does not rotate toward the passenger seat, and the upper side of the cushion does not tilt toward the passenger seat, because the front airbag on the passenger side provides support.

[0026] In the present invention, the cushion does not swing or tilt when restraining an occupant, thereby improving the occupant restraint performance. Furthermore, in accordance with the present invention, it is not necessary to obtain occupant restraint force solely from the side airbag, which makes it possible to simplify the structure of the side airbag. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0027] [Figure 1A] FIG. 1A is a view of an airbag system according to an embodiment, viewed from above a vehicle, showing a state in which a cushion of a side airbag and a cushion of a front passenger airbag have completed inflation and deployment. [Figure 1B] FIG. 1B is a view similar to FIG. 1A showing a modified version using a driver's front airbag. [Figure 2]FIG. 2 is a view of the airbag system according to the embodiment, seen from the side of the vehicle, showing a state in which the cushion of the side airbag and the cushion of the front passenger airbag have completed inflation and deployment. [Figure 3A] FIG. 3A is a view seen from above the vehicle showing a state in which the cushion of a side airbag and the cushion of a passenger-side front airbag have completed inflation and deployment in an airbag system according to a first modified example of the embodiment. [Figure 3B] FIG. 3B is a view similar to FIG. 3A, showing a second modified example in which a second sub-chamber is provided on the passenger-side front airbag side. [Figure 4] FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating the movement of an occupant during a side collision in an embodiment that does not have a first sub-chamber or a second sub-chamber. [Figure 5] 5(a) and (b) are views of an airbag system according to a third modified example of the embodiment, showing the state in which the cushion of a side airbag and the cushion of a front passenger airbag have completed inflation and deployment, as viewed from above the vehicle. [Figure 6] 6(a) and 6(b) are views of an airbag system according to a fourth modified example of the embodiment, showing the state in which the cushion of a side airbag and the cushion of a front passenger airbag have completed inflation and deployment, as viewed from above the vehicle. [Figure 7] 7(a) and 7(b) are diagrams similar to FIG. 5, showing a modified example in which the second modified example and the third modified example are combined. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0028] Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. Note that the following embodiments are merely examples of the present invention and are not intended to limit the scope of the present invention, its applications, or its uses.

[0029] In the present invention, an "occupant" refers to, for example, a person with a physique equivalent to that of an average American man, conforming to a frontal collision test dummy (Hybrid III AM50 / frontal collision test dummy established by the NHTSA [National Highway Traffic Safety Administration] standard [49 CFR Part 572 Subparts E and O]), with approximate dimensions of 175 cm in height, 88 cm in seated height, and 78 kg in weight. However, the present invention is also applicable to other anthropomorphic dummies.

[0030] In addition, in this specification, "upper" and "upper side" may refer to the head direction of an occupant 3 seated in a normal position on the seat, and "lower" and "lower side" may refer to the foot direction of the occupant 3. Here, the "normal position" refers to the center position of the seat cushion in the left-right direction, where the back of the occupant 3 makes contact with the backrest 7 from top to bottom. Furthermore, "front" and "front side" may refer to the front direction of an occupant 3 seated in a normal position on the seat, and "rear" and "rear side" may refer to the back direction of the occupant 3. Furthermore, "left" and "left side" may refer to the left hand direction of an occupant 3 seated in a normal position on the seat, and "right" and "right side" may refer to the right hand direction of the occupant 3. Furthermore, the "width direction" and "vehicle width direction" of a vehicle may be synonymous with these "right" and "left" directions.

[0031] As shown in FIG. 1A , this embodiment is an airbag system 10 including at least a side airbag 20 and a passenger-side front airbag 30, as well as a control device 40 that controls the timing of inflating and deploying the cushions 21, 31 of each airbag device. The airbag system 10 of this embodiment further includes a driver's side airbag 60 that protects the near side of an occupant 3 seated in the driver's seat 2a, and a passenger-side side airbag 70 that protects the near side of an occupant seated in the passenger's seat 2b. A steering wheel 4 is provided in front of the driver's seat 2a. The side airbag 20 is housed inside the far side of the backrest 3 of the driver's seat 2a, one of two seats arranged side by side in the vehicle width direction within the vehicle 1. The passenger-side front airbag 30 is housed in the instrument panel 5 of the vehicle 1. The driver's seat 2a corresponds to one seat of the vehicle, and the passenger's seat 2b corresponds to the other seat provided adjacent to the driver's seat 2a in the width direction of the vehicle. The passenger's seat front airbag 30 corresponds to a front airbag. Before describing the airbag system 10, the configuration of the seats will be described below.

[0032] [Seat configuration] As shown in Fig. 2, the driver's seat 2a includes a seat cushion 6 and a backrest 7. A headrest 8 is attached to the upper end of the backrest 7 via a rod-shaped support member 8a. The headrest 8 may be formed integrally with the backrest 7 without the support member 8a.

[0033] The seat cushion 6 has a pad provided on the upper side of the seat pan, and the pad is covered with a skin material. The backrest 7 has a pad provided on the front side of the seat frame, and the pad is covered with a skin material.

[0034] The cushion 21 of the side airbag 20 is rolled up or folded accordion-like in a flat state to assume the storage configuration when stored in the driver's seat 2a. The cushion 21 in the storage configuration is stored along the side of the seat frame of the driver's seat 2a. The storage position of the cushion 21 is inside the side support portion provided on the far side of the backrest 3.

[0035] [Side airbag configuration] The side airbag 20 is an airbag device for protecting the far side of an occupant 3 seated in the driver's seat 2a. The side airbag 20 includes a cushion 21 and an inflator 24. In the event of a side collision of the vehicle, the side airbag 20 inflates and deploys toward the front of the vehicle at a side portion of the driver's seat 2a that is on the central side in the vehicle width direction.

[0036] The inflator 24 is a device that injects gas to inflate the cushion 21. In the side airbag 20, the cylindrical inflator 24 is disposed inside the cushion 21, and ejects gas into the interior of the cushion 21 from holes 24a provided on the outer surface of the cushion 21. The inflator 24 is disposed in a storage section provided inside the cushion 21.

[0037] The cushion 21 has a required length in the up-down and front-rear directions so as to be able to restrain the sides of the occupant 3, for example, the head, shoulders, upper arms, chest, waist, and sides of the abdomen. The cushion 21 is formed into a bag shape by sewing together the outer peripheries of two base fabric panels formed in the same shape so as to have a thickness in the left-right direction. Alternatively, the required number of base fabric panels of the required shape may be prepared in advance, and the bag may be formed by sewing together predetermined locations.

[0038] Two stud bolts (not shown) are attached to the outer surface of the inflator 24 opposite the hole 24a in a protruding manner at an appropriate interval in the longitudinal direction. The inflator 24 is fixed to the seat frame using these stud bolts. Furthermore, by fixing the inflator storage section to the seat frame, the cushion 21 is also fixed to the seat frame. A fixing tool may be used as a means for attaching the cushion 21 to the side frame.

[0039] [Passenger-seat front airbag configuration] The passenger seat front airbag 30 includes a cushion 31 that inflates and deploys in the direction of the passenger seat 2b, an inflator 34 that sprays inflation gas to inflate the cushion 31, and a storage case 33 that stores the cushion 31 and is attached to the storage section 5a.

[0040] 2, the passenger-side front airbag 30 is disposed in a storage section 5a provided in the passenger-side panel of the instrument panel 5. The passenger-side panel is a panel disposed in front of the passenger seat. The cushion 31 is folded or rolled up into a small, stored state and disposed inside the storage section 5a.

[0041] A disk-shaped inflator 34 is disposed inside the cushion 31. The inflator 34 is a gas generating device that is activated upon receiving a signal from a control device 40 that is connected to a sensor 41 that detects a collision, and supplies inflation gas to the cushion 31.

[0042] When the cushion 31 is in a non-inflated state before being inflated and deployed, the opening of the storage section 5a is closed by a door portion provided on the instrument panel 5. The front windshield screen 9 is a plate member provided on the front window of the vehicle, and is provided at an angle toward the passenger compartment with respect to the upper surface of the instrument panel 5.

[0043] In a conventional airbag system, the inflator 34 of the passenger-side front airbag 30 injects inflation gas into the cushion 31 only when an impact is applied from the front of the vehicle. The inflated and deployed cushion 31 is used only for the purpose of restraining the occupant 3 seated in the passenger-side seat 2b from the front.

[0044] In contrast, the purpose of use of the passenger seat front airbag 30 in the airbag system 10 of this embodiment is significantly different. In the following explanation, the characteristic configuration and effects of the airbag system 10 will be described with reference to Figs. 1A and 2.

[0045] [Configuration and Effects of the Airbag System of the Present Embodiment] The airbag system 10 includes a side airbag 20 that inflates and deploys toward the front of the vehicle on a side portion of the vehicle center of the driver's seat 2a of the vehicle 1, a passenger front airbag 30 that inflates and deploys in front of the passenger seat 2b of the vehicle 1, and a control device 40 that inflates and deploys the passenger front airbag 30 together with the side airbag 20 in the event of a side collision of the vehicle. As a result, the airbag system 10 makes it possible to inflate and deploy the passenger front airbag 30 in the event of a side collision, whereas conventionally the passenger front airbag 30 would only inflate and deploy in the event of a frontal collision. In addition, as shown in FIG. 2, in the airbag system 10, when the cushion 21 of the side airbag 20 when inflated and deployed and the cushion 31 of the passenger seat front airbag 30 when inflated and deployed are viewed from the side perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the vehicle 1, the vehicle front end portion 25 of the cushion 21 of the side airbag 20 is positioned further forward of the vehicle 1 than the vehicle rear end portion 35 of the cushion 31 of the passenger seat front airbag 30.

[0046] 2, when the side airbag 20 when inflated and deployed and the passenger front airbag 30 when inflated and deployed are seen perspectively from the side in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle 1, the airbag system 10 has an overlapping portion 11 where the cushion 21 of the side airbag 20 and the cushion 31 of the passenger front airbag 30 overlap. The overlapping portion 11 is formed between a vehicle front end portion 25 of the side airbag 20 and a vehicle rear end portion 35 of the passenger front airbag 30.

[0047] Specifically, as shown in FIG. 1A, in the airbag system 10, when the side airbag 20 and the passenger front airbag 30 have each completed inflation and deployment, the cushion 21 of the side airbag 20 has a first contact area 26 in contact with the passenger front airbag 30, and the cushion 31 of the passenger front airbag 30 has a second contact area 36 in contact with the side airbag.

[0048] Generally, when the tip of a side airbag cushion rotates, the cushion swings to avoid the occupant as they move laterally across the vehicle, making it difficult to adequately and appropriately protect the occupant. Also, when the cushion tilts toward the passenger seat, it is not possible to secure a position to properly receive the occupant, making it difficult to adequately and appropriately protect the occupant.

[0049] To address the above-mentioned issues, in the airbag system 10, when a side collision, an oblique collision, or the like occurs and a sensor 41 detects the collision, the control unit 40, upon receiving a signal from the sensor 41, activates not only the inflator 24 of the side airbag 20 but also the inflator 34 of the passenger-side front airbag 30. The inflator 24 ejects gas into the interior of the cushion 21 to inflate and deploy the cushion 21, and the inflator 34 ejects gas into the interior of the cushion 31 to inflate and deploy the cushion 31.

[0050] In this case, the airbag system 10 is configured such that the vehicle front end 25 of the side airbag 20 is positioned further forward in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle 1 than the vehicle rear end 35 of the passenger seat front airbag 30, and the airbag system 10 has an overlapping portion 11 where the side airbag 20 and the passenger seat front airbag 30 overlap.

[0051] In the airbag system 10, the vehicle front end 25 of the cushion 21 is located further forward of the vehicle 1 than the vehicle rear end 35 of the cushion 31, or the airbag system 10 has the overlapping portion 11, so that the passenger front airbag 30 can be inflated and deployed during a side collision, and the inflated and deployed passenger airbag 30 can be brought into contact with the side airbag 20. Specifically, the side airbag 20 and the passenger front airbag 30 each have a first contact region 26 and a second contact region 36.

[0052] As a result, in the airbag system 10, by using the cushion 31 of the passenger front airbag 30 as a support, it is possible to suppress the movement of the vehicle front side of the cushion 21 of the inflated and deployed side airbag 20 from rotating horizontally toward the passenger seat 2b. In addition, by using the cushion 31 as a support, it is possible to prevent the upper side of the inflated and deployed cushion 21 from tilting toward the passenger seat 2b. Therefore, in the airbag system 10, it is possible to ensure a portion that accurately receives the occupant 3, and the restraint performance for the occupant 3 is improved.

[0053] The passenger seat 2b may be occupied or may be empty, but the airbag system 10 inflates and deploys the cushion 21 of the side airbag 20 in either case. The airbag system 10 can reliably protect the passenger 3 seated in the driver's seat 2a from impacts in the event of a side collision or an oblique collision, regardless of whether or not there is an occupant in the passenger seat 2b.

[0054] Furthermore, when a side collision occurs on the passenger seat 2b side of the vehicle 1, the occupant seated in the passenger seat 2b moves toward the collision side due to inertial force in the early stages of the collision, and then moves to the opposite side due to the impact force of the collision. In the airbag system 10, the cushion 21 of the side airbag 20 is inflated and deployed, so that the occupant seated in the passenger seat 2b can also be restrained from moving toward the center in the vehicle width direction or diagonally forward toward the center of the vehicle.

[0055] When a frontal collision occurs with the vehicle 1 while an occupant is seated in the passenger seat 2b, the airbag system 10 inflates and deploys the cushion 31 of the passenger front airbag 30 to restrain the head, chest, abdomen, etc. of the occupant seated in the passenger seat 2b from the front, just like a conventional airbag system. The passenger front airbag 30 also has the function of preventing the occupant seated in the passenger seat 2b from colliding with the instrument panel 7 or the front windshield 9, just like a conventional airbag system.

[0056] [First Modification of the Embodiment] 3A, in the airbag system 10 of this modified example, the cushion 21 of the side airbag 20 includes a first main chamber 22 that inflates and deploys toward the front of the vehicle 1, and a first sub-chamber 23 that protrudes from the first main chamber 22 toward the center in the vehicle width direction (the passenger front airbag 30 side) and inflates and deploys, and the first contact region 26 is located on the sub-chamber 23. The first sub-chamber 23 of this modified example is provided in the overlapping portion 11 shown in FIG. 2 (the portion where the cushion 21 of the side airbag 20 and the cushion 31 of the passenger front airbag 30 overlap when seen perspectively from the side in the front-to-rear direction of the vehicle 1).

[0057] The first sub-chamber 23 has a smaller chamber volume than the first main chamber 22. The first sub-chamber 23 is formed so as to protrude obliquely toward the front of the passenger seat 2b. The first sub-chamber 23 of this modified example is separate from the first main chamber 22 and is attached to the first main chamber 22 by stitching. The first sub-chamber 23 communicates with the first main chamber 22 via a vent hole provided in the first main chamber 22.

[0058] In this modification, in the event of a side collision, the inflator 21 receives a signal from the control unit 40 and ejects gas from the holes 21a formed on the outer surface of the inflator 21 into the first main chamber 22, thereby inflating and deploying the first main chamber 22. After the first main chamber 22 is inflated and deployed, gas flows into the first sub-chamber 23 through the vent hole, causing the sub-chamber 2e to inflate and deploy.

[0059] The number of vent holes and the size of each hole may be designed taking into consideration the timing of inflating and deploying the first sub-chamber 23. If the total open area of ​​the vent holes is made sufficiently large, gas can be quickly supplied to the first sub-chamber 23 almost simultaneously with the inflation and deployment of the first main chamber 22, thereby enabling the first sub-chamber 23 to quickly inflate. Furthermore, depending on design requirements, the total open area of ​​the vent holes can be adjusted to be slightly smaller, thereby creating a required time lag between the inflation and deployment of the first main chamber 22 and the inflation and deployment of the first sub-chamber 23.

[0060] When the configuration of this modified example is compared with the configuration of the embodiment that does not have the first sub-chamber 23 (FIG. 4), the first sub-chamber 23 inflates to protrude toward the passenger front airbag 30, so that the space between the side airbag 20 and the passenger front airbag 30 is filled by the first sub-chamber 23 when inflated and deployed, making it easier for the cushion 31 of the passenger front airbag 30 to support the cushion 21 of the side airbag 20. Furthermore, in this modified example, the amount of movement of the occupant 3 toward the center in the vehicle width direction during a side collision is reduced (compare FIG. 3A with FIG. 4).

[0061] In this modified example, the support is stabilized by the first sub-chamber 23 that protrudes toward the front of the passenger seat 2b, thereby further enhancing the effect of preventing the tip of the cushion 21 from rotating and the effect of preventing the cushion 21 from tilting.

[0062] [Second Modification of the Embodiment] 3B, in the airbag system 10 of this modified example, the cushion 31 of the passenger front airbag 30 is configured with a second main chamber 32 that inflates and deploys toward the rear of the vehicle 1, and a second sub-chamber 33 that protrudes from the second main chamber 32 toward the center in the vehicle width direction (the side airbag 20 side) and inflates and deploys. The second sub-chamber 33 of this modified example is provided in an overlapping portion 11 where the cushion 21 of the side airbag 20 and the cushion 31 of the passenger front airbag 30 overlap when seen perspectively from the side in the fore-and-aft direction of the vehicle 1.

[0063] Even when the second sub-chamber 33 is provided for the passenger front airbag 30, the space between the side airbag 20 and the passenger front airbag 30 is filled with the second sub-chamber 33, making it easier for the cushion 31 of the passenger front airbag 30 to support the cushion 21 of the side airbag 20. This further improves the effect of preventing the cushion 21 from swinging and tilting when an occupant is restrained.

[0064] [Third Modification of the Embodiment] As shown in FIG. 5, in this modified example, the cushion 21 of the side airbag 20 is provided with a first high-friction portion 27 having a larger friction coefficient than the surface portion of the base fabric panel that constitutes the cushion 21 of the side airbag 20, and the first high-friction portion 27 is configured to include the first contact region 26.

[0065] As a result, in this modified example, the first high-friction portion 27 acts as an anti-slip portion, preventing slippage after the cushion 21 of the inflated and deployed side airbag 20 and the cushion 31 of the passenger front airbag 30 come into contact with each other. This makes it easier to maintain contact between the cushion 21 of the side airbag 20 and the cushion 31 of the passenger front airbag 30, improving the protection performance for the occupant 3.

[0066] In this modification, the coefficient of friction in the first high-friction portion 27 can be increased by attaching a patch. For example, of the two base fabric panels that form the cushion 21, a patch having a higher coefficient of friction than the base fabric panel is sewn and attached to the surface side of the base fabric panel that comes into contact with the cushion 31. This sewing may be performed, for example, near the top and bottom edges of the patch, along the edges of the patch. If the patch is too large, it will interfere with the inflation and deployment of the cushion 21, and if it is too small, an appropriate anti-slip effect cannot be expected. Therefore, the size of the patch should be determined appropriately within a range that does not cause these problems.

[0067] In this modification, the coefficient of friction in first high-friction portion 27 can also be increased by applying a resin coating. For example, of the two base fabric panels that form cushion 21, a resin coating with a higher coefficient of friction than the base fabric panel is applied to the surface side of the base fabric panel that comes into contact with cushion 31. In this case, too, the size of the area to be resin-coated can be determined using the same criteria as above.

[0068] [Fourth Modification of the Embodiment] In this modified example, as shown in FIG. 6 , the cushion 31 of the passenger seat front airbag 30 is provided with a second high-friction portion 37 having a higher friction coefficient than the surface portion of the base fabric panel that constitutes the cushion 31 of the passenger seat front airbag 30, and the second high-friction portion 37 is configured to include a second contact region 66.

[0069] In this modified example, the second high-friction portion 37 also serves as an anti-slip portion, preventing slippage after the cushion 21 of the inflated and deployed side airbag 20 and the cushion 31 of the passenger front airbag 30 come into contact with each other. Therefore, in this modified example, the cushion 21 of the side airbag 20 and the cushion 31 of the passenger front airbag 30 can easily maintain contact with each other, and similar to the second modified example, the protection performance for the occupant 3 is improved.

[0070] In this modification, the coefficient of friction of the first high friction portion 27 can also be increased by, for example, attaching a patch or applying a resin coating.

[0071] [Other variations] In the above-described embodiment, the front airbag may be a driver's front airbag. That is, the present invention may be configured such that a side airbag is provided on a side portion of the passenger seat 2b near the center in the vehicle width direction, and a front airbag is provided in front of the driver's seat 2a. In this case, when the cushion of the side airbag is inflated and deployed, the driver's front airbag can provide support to suppress the front side of the cushion from rotating toward the driver's seat 2a or the upper side of the cushion from tilting toward the driver's seat 2a.

[0072] In the above-described embodiment, the front airbag supporting the side airbag 20 provided in the driver's seat 2a may be a driver's front airbag. That is, as shown in FIG. 1B , the airbag system 10 of the present invention may be configured to include a side airbag 20 that inflates and deploys toward the front of the vehicle on a side portion of the driver's seat 2a that is central in the vehicle width direction, and a driver's front airbag 50 that inflates and deploys in front of the driver's seat 2a. In this case, the control device 40 inflates and deploys the driver's front airbag 50 together with the side airbag 20 in the event of a side collision of the vehicle. The driver's front airbag 50 is disposed in a storage portion of the driver's seat panel that is disposed in front of the driver's seat 2a, of the instrument panel 5. The driver's front airbag 50 includes a cushion 51 that inflates and deploys toward the driver's seat 2a and an inflator 54 that ejects inflation gas to inflate the cushion 51.

[0073] In the airbag system 10 of this modified example, when the side airbag 20 during inflation and deployment and the driver's front airbag 50 during inflation and deployment are viewed from a side perpendicular to the vehicle's longitudinal direction, the vehicle front end 25 of the side airbag 20 is located further forward of the vehicle than the vehicle rear end 55 of the driver's front airbag 50. Furthermore, the airbag system 10 of this modified example also has an overlapping portion 11 where the side airbag 20 and the driver's front airbag 50 overlap when viewed from a side perpendicular to the vehicle's longitudinal direction. This allows the driver's front airbag 50 to inflate and deploy during a side collision, and the inflated and deployed driver's front airbag 50 to come into contact with the side airbag 20. Specifically, the side airbag 20 and the driver's front airbag 50 each have a first contact region 26 and a third contact region 56. In this modification, similar to the above-described embodiment, the driver's front airbag 50 acts as a support to suppress the horizontal swinging of the cushion 21 of the side airbag 20 and the tilting of the upper side of the cushion.

[0074] In the above-described embodiment, the first sub-chamber 23 of the cushion 21 shown in the first modified example may be formed integrally with the first main chamber 22. Similarly, the second sub-chamber 33 of the cushion 31 shown in the second modified example may be a separate piece from the second main chamber 32 and sewn to the second main chamber 32, or may be formed integrally with the second main chamber 32.

[0075] In the above-described embodiment, the configuration shown in the third modified example and the configuration shown in the fourth modified example may be combined. That is, as shown in Fig. 7, the cushion 21 of the side airbag 20 may be provided with a first high friction portion 27, and the cushion 31 of the passenger front airbag 30 may be provided with a second high friction portion 37. In this case, the first high friction portion 27 is configured to include the first contact region 26, and the second high friction portion 37 is configured to include the second contact region 66. In this modified example, the first high friction portion 27 and the second high friction portion 37, which have large friction coefficients, are in contact with each other, thereby further improving the effect of preventing slippage between the cushion 21 and the cushion 31.

[0076] In the above-described embodiment, the cushion 21 of the side airbag 20 and the cushion 31 of the passenger seat front airbag 30 are not limited to being formed by joining an appropriate number of base fabric panels by sewing or the like, but may also be formed using the so-called "one-piece weaving" technique.

[0077] In the above-described embodiment, the vertical, front-rear, and left-right dimensions of the cushion 21 of the side airbag 20 and the cushion 31 of the passenger front airbag 30 are not limited to those illustrated in the drawings. The sizes and shapes of the cushion 21 and the cushion 31 may be adjusted as appropriate depending on the shapes and installation positions of the driver's seat 2a and the passenger's seat 2b, the range in which occupant protection is required, and the like. [Industrial Applicability]

[0078] The configuration of the present invention is not dependent on a specific vehicle type and can be applied to any vehicle. [Explanation of symbols]

[0079] 1 vehicle 2a Driver's seat 2b Passenger seat 3 crew members 10 Airbag System 11 Overlap 20 Side airbags 21 Cushion 22 First Main Chamber 23 First Sub-Chamber 24 Inflator 25 Front end of side airbag 26 1st contact area 27 1st high friction section 30 Passenger front airbag 31 Cushion 32 Second Main Chamber 33 Second sub-chamber 34 Inflator 35 Passenger front airbag rear end of vehicle 36 Second contact area 37 2nd high friction section 40 Control device 50 Driver's front airbag 51 Cushion 54 Inflator 55 Rear end of driver's front airbag 56 Third contact area

Claims

1. A side airbag that inflates and deploys toward the front of the vehicle at a side portion of the driver's seat that is central in the width direction of the vehicle; a front airbag that inflates and deploys in front of a passenger seat that is provided adjacent to the driver's seat in the vehicle width direction; a control device that inflates and deploys the front airbag together with the side airbag in the event of a side collision of a vehicle, when the side airbag when inflated and deployed and the front airbag when inflated and deployed are viewed from a side perpendicular to the front-to-rear direction of the vehicle, a front end portion of the side airbag is located further forward in the vehicle than a rear end portion of the front airbag, when the side airbag when inflated and deployed and the front airbag when inflated and deployed are seen perspectively from a side perpendicular to the front-to-rear direction of the vehicle, there is an overlapping portion where the side airbag and the front airbag overlap, The side airbag includes a first main chamber that inflates and deploys toward the front of the vehicle, and a first sub-chamber that inflates and deploys by protruding from the first main chamber toward the center in the vehicle width direction, the first sub-chamber is formed so as to protrude obliquely from the first main chamber of the side airbag toward the center in the vehicle width direction and toward the front of the passenger seat, and is provided in the overlapping portion.

2. A side airbag that inflates and deploys toward the front of the vehicle at a side portion of the driver's seat that is central in the width direction of the vehicle; a front airbag that inflates and deploys in front of a passenger seat that is provided adjacent to the driver's seat in the vehicle width direction; a control device that inflates and deploys the front airbag together with the side airbag in the event of a side collision of a vehicle, when the side airbag when inflated and deployed and the front airbag when inflated and deployed are viewed from a side perpendicular to the front-to-rear direction of the vehicle, a front end portion of the side airbag is located further forward in the vehicle than a rear end portion of the front airbag, when the side airbag when inflated and deployed and the front airbag when inflated and deployed are seen perspectively from a side perpendicular to the front-to-rear direction of the vehicle, there is an overlapping portion where the side airbag and the front airbag overlap, the front airbag includes a second main chamber that inflates and deploys toward the rear of the vehicle, and a second sub-chamber that inflates and deploys by protruding from the second main chamber toward the center in the vehicle width direction, The second sub-chamber is provided in the overlapping portion so as to inflate and deploy from the second main chamber of the front airbag toward the center in the vehicle width direction.

3. An airbag system as described in claim 1 or 2, wherein, in a fully inflated state in which the side airbag and the front airbag have each completed inflation and deployment, the side airbag has a first contact area in contact with the front airbag, and the front airbag has a second contact area in contact with the side airbag.

4. An airbag system as described in claim 3, wherein the side airbag is provided with a first high-friction portion having a friction coefficient greater than that of the surface portion of the base fabric panel constituting the side airbag, and the first contact area is included in the first high-friction portion.

5. An airbag system as described in claim 3, wherein the front airbag is provided with a second high-friction portion having a friction coefficient greater than that of the surface portion of the base fabric panel constituting the front airbag, and the second contact area is included in the second high-friction portion.

6. An airbag system as described in claim 1 or 2, wherein the front airbag is a front airbag for the passenger seat.

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